COURSE OUTLINE
SENIOR SEMINAR ABIO 490
SPRING 2012
Instructor:
Office:
Telephone:
Dr. Michele Harmon
SBDG 221A
641-3607
Office Hours:
Email:
By appointment
micheleh@usca.edu
Lecture:
Seminar:
Text:
Th, 6:00-7:15PM in SBDG 327
Fri 1:00-2:15 PM in SBDG 327
None
Credit:
One Semester Hour
Co-requisites: Students must be concurrently enrolled in ABIO 499.
Course Description: Discussion and presentation of current topics in biology and geology by students, faculty, and visiting scientists.
Emphasis is placed on effective oral and written communication and critical examination of scientific information and ideas. Students
will prepare a research proposal, critique peer writing and oral presentations, practice giving scientific presentations, and present a
final formal presentation.
Course Objectives: Students will be introduced to current research in the fields of biology and geology through research seminars by
attending the Department of Biology and Geology Seminar Series. Students will learn how to prepare a research proposal, give a
formal research presentation, and critique the work of their peers in a constructive manner based on scientific principles. Students will
write a proposal outlining a potential investigation. Students will present the results of an investigation at the end of the semester in
the form of a PowerPoint presentation.
Students will be expected to:
1.
submit a research proposal;
2.
develop strategies for oral and presentation of scientific work;
3.
critically analyze written and oral scientific presentations;
4.
attend and participate in the Department of Biology and Geology seminar series; and
5.
prepare and present an oral presentation of research.
Methods of Evaluation: Performance in this course will be evaluated for a letter grade as outlined below.
Biology senior exit exam
First draft of proposal
Written peer review of proposal
Final proposal
Second practice presentation
Peer-review of practice presentations
Final oral presentation
Seminar critiques
Seminar participation
5%
10%
10%
20%
10%
10%
15%
10%
10%
Grading Scale: A (90-100%), B (80-89%), C (70-79%), D (60-69%), F (0-59%)
Attendance Policy: The objectives of the course are best served by the observation of presentations by professionals and peers, and
by the presentation of research. Thus, attendance is the most critical component of this course. For every Friday seminar that a student
misses, 10% (one letter grade) will be deducted from the overall grade, and 5% will be deducted for missing a class. Attendance in this
class is not a passive process. The speakers we recruit travel a long distance for no compensation, and deserve your respect and
attention. To earn full points for attendance each student must ask one “good” (by the instructor’s standard) question of one of our
speakers during the course of the semester. Attendance points will be deducted for behavior that is construed by the instructor as
impolite or inattentive (including the use of cell phones for text messaging, or having a cell phone ring during the presentation).
Students also will be expected to complete a critique of the style and content of the seminar presentation, which will be discussed
during the next class period.
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Disability Statement: If you have a physical, psychological, and/or learning disability which might affect your performance in this
class, please contact the Office of Disability Services, 126A B&E, (803) 641-3609, as soon as possible. The Disability Services
Office will determine appropriate accommodations based on medical documentation.
Classroom Behavior: It is the instructor’s right to remove from the classroom any student who disrupts or disturbs the proceeding of
the class. Disruption of the class includes but is not limited to the use of any portable electronic devices, including cell phones, MP3
players, iPods, etc. unless prior approval has been given to a student or unless required for the course. In extreme cases, the faculty
member can request assistance from University Police. If the student who has been ejected causes similar disturbances in subsequent
meetings of the class, he/she may be denied admittance to the class for the remainder of the semester and assigned a grade of F.
Date
Jan 12-13
Jan 19-20
Jan 26-27
Feb 2-3
Wednesday
Feb 8
Feb 9-10
Feb 16-17
Feb 23-24
Mar 2-3
Mar 9-10
Mar 15-16
Mar 22-23
Mar 29-30
Apr 6-7
Apr 13-14
Apr 19-20
CLASS SCHEDULE
Topic
Introduction
Discuss expectations for seminar etiquette and critiques
Discuss expectations for the research proposal
Discuss expectations for presentations
What is an appropriate reference, and how do you find them?
Students provide research project titles and proposal titles
First practice using PowerPoint - Titles and Objectives
First practice using PowerPoint - Titles and Objectives
Proposal drafts are due via email attachment by 5:00 pm
Start peer review process
Collect and discuss peer reviews
Second practice using PowerPoint - Title, Objectives, Methods
Return peer reviews to authors
Second practice using PowerPoint - Title, Objectives, Methods
Final hard copy of research proposal is due at beginning of class
No class – Spring Break
Second practice using PowerPoint - Title, Objectives, Methods
Senior exit exam
No Thursday class
Final practice - complete presentation
Final practice - complete presentation
Final practice - complete presentation
Seminar
Safety Training
Regular Friday seminar
Regular Friday seminar
Regular Friday seminar
Regular Friday seminar
Regular Friday seminar
Regular Friday seminar
Regular Friday seminar
No seminar - Spring Break
Regular Friday seminar
Regular Friday seminar
Regular Friday seminar
ABIO 499 Student Seminars
ABIO 499 Student Seminars
ABIO 499 Student Seminars
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